The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-05-11
ARTlcHokEs FOR STOCK.
Their Nutritive Qualities Considered AL
most Equal to Those of Corn.

Their Nutritive Qualities Considered AL
| most Equal to Those of Corn.
Those persons who feel the real need
1 of some successful food for stock DUR
ing the season of year when it can not
be had in the usual way and who can
not afford the expense or inconvenience
of providing it by way OF the silo, can
do it by the cultivation of roots as the
next best thing. And the question
arises as to which of the various kinds
is the best, the most cheaply grown
and the most convenient to care for
and utilize when grown. The verdict
OF those who have ample experience in
the matter is that artichokes more fully
fill the conditions named than any
other.
This and the potato contain the least
per cent. of water rs compared with
all other available roots, thus afford
ing a larger remainder for fat and
flesh producing elements, consisting
mainly of starch in the potato and
sugar in the artichoke. The sugar
element in the artichoke is no doubt
the cause of its great superiority
over the potato in several respects as
a universal stock food for winter use.
Nearly all the stock like sugar, and
consequently the artichoke soon be-
comes palatable not only to the hog
kind, for which it is peculiarly adapted;
but also to cattle, being good for mich
cows and also for horses.
1t is very nutritious, being considered
almost equal to corn in fattening quail
ties as well as more healthful, being
laxative and antiscorbutic in its effects.
1t is much more oheaply grown than
the potato, from the fact that the same
labor will produce three times more in
quantity of artichokes without consid-
ering the numerous drawbacks to
which the potato is subject, viz; bugs,
worms ETC., from which the artichoke
is free. 1t is unaffected by freezing.
consequently may be dug at leisure or
left in the ground and be taken as
wanted through the winter, when alb
sence of frost will permit, or in the
spring when it is peculiarly acceptable
to stock before green food appears.
This quality renders it peculiarly
available, as it virtually takes care of
itself when grown, and saves anxiety
and loss.
Its cultivation is essentially the same
as that of the potato. 1t resembles the
potato asa tuber in size, shape and
eyes. The seed may be cut to one or
more eyes and planted in hills, or drills
in burrows six or eight inches deep,
and cultivated and hilled same as
potatoes. About three bushels are re-
quired to the acre. If the design is to
dig them for use Gnstead of fencing
them in for the hogs to harvest as they
may be disposed, during the winter),
the best way is to go over them with
the scythe cutting the tops close to
the ground and removing them, leav-
ing the ground clean for digging and
picking. If left to the hogs and the
tubers are not cleaned out by spring,
the patch will reseed itself and a spon- !
taneous crop be produced
This, however, in case of an open
winter, would leave too much uncer-
tainty as to the future supply. There
need be no fear, as some suppose, that
this reproductiveness will prove a
nuisance, for if the tubers are all taken
out, or if the growth is plowed under
about July l, that is the end of 1.-THE
life is spent and the tuber rots. Brother
farmer, keep your stock healthy dur
ing the dry feeding season. Have some
and green food fed more or
less regularly and you will not need |
fear disease. Artichokes are eminent-
[y available to this end. w Nicholson,
IN WeStern RflrnZ